On stage, Sherif Foda of National Energy Services Reunited (NESR) and Will Hutson of LMTD spoke with urgency about a sector quietly undergoing transformation. Far from being disrupted from the outside, energy is integrating artificial intelligence from within — leveraging decades of industrial expertise and pairing it with machine learning to unlock efficiency, sustainability, and competitive advantage.

At 11:00 am on the AI Stage, the panel challenged the outdated perception that oil and gas lags in digital transformation. The conversation revealed a sector rapidly integrating artificial intelligence to optimize exploration, drilling efficiency, emissions monitoring, and predictive maintenance — proving that legacy infrastructure does not mean legacy thinking.

Sherif Foda, CEO of National Energy Services Reunited (NESR), highlighted how AI is no longer experimental in energy operations. From subsurface data modeling to real-time field optimization, AI is enhancing productivity while driving measurable sustainability gains. He emphasized that competitive advantage in energy now depends on data intelligence as much as physical assets.

Joining him, Will Hutson of LMTD discussed the growing collaboration between startups and established energy players. Rather than disruption through replacement, innovation is emerging through partnership — agile AI ventures working alongside industrial giants to modernize workflows, reduce risk, and unlock operational transparency.

The session ultimately reframed the narrative: energy is not resisting AI — it is actively engineering its integration. As global demand balances sustainability with supply security, the fusion of deep industrial expertise and advanced machine learning may define the next era of responsible energy leadership.

The post Energy x AI: Cracking the Code of Innovation in Legacy Industries first appeared on T&I News.

The session on Sovereign AI from UAE brought together government leaders, ecosystem builders, and capital allocators to discuss how data governance, regulation, and market design can anchor the next decade of AI-driven economic growth — from Dubai to the world — with a sharp focus on tangible opportunity.

Listen to the panel discussion from the middle below:

Read below the summary of the above audio

Designing the Next AI Economy

Representing the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism, Dr. Marwan Alzarouni emphasized that Dubai’s approach to AI goes beyond adoption — it is about economic positioning.

Dubai’s strategy centers on:

• Forward-looking regulatory frameworks
• Government-backed digital infrastructure
• Active collaboration between public and private sectors
• Incentives for AI-native companies to build regional headquarters in the UAE

The vision is clear: create a sovereign AI ecosystem where innovation aligns with national competitiveness while remaining globally connected.

Infrastructure Meets Ecosystem

From the startup enablement front, Saeed Alnofeli of in5 highlighted how Dubai has evolved from a startup-friendly city to a structured launchpad for scalable tech ventures.

AI founders today require more than coworking space — they need:

• Regulatory clarity
• Data accessibility
• Enterprise adoption pathways
• Cross-border market access

Dubai’s integrated model — connecting incubators, government entities, and free zones — is designed to compress the time between innovation and commercialization.

Capital with Strategic Mandate

On the investment front, Mahmoud Ward from Dubai Future District Fund Investments Limited** articulated how sovereign-backed capital is being deployed not only for returns, but for long-term economic transformation.

The Fund’s strategy reflects a broader shift in the UAE’s investment thesis:

• Back AI infrastructure and platforms
• Support companies relocating or expanding to Dubai
• Strengthen domestic innovation capacity
• Position the UAE as a capital hub for emerging technologies

This capital-market alignment ensures that founders choosing Dubai are not just entering a market — they are plugging into a national growth strategy.

Market Design and Strategic Advisory

From a strategic advisory lens, Dua Al Toobi of Future Proof Advisory underscored the importance of market design in AI adoption.

AI transformation is not simply about deploying models — it requires:

• Institutional readiness
• Regulatory foresight
• Cross-sector partnerships
• Long-term economic modeling

Dubai’s ability to convene government, capital, and enterprise players into a single coordinated framework is what differentiates it from fragmented global markets.

Why Global AI Companies Should Choose Dubai

The session also spotlighted collaboration opportunities across:

• Accenture — enabling enterprise AI transformation
• TECOM Group and Dubai Internet City — providing sector-focused innovation districts
• Astratech — building scalable regional tech platforms

Together, these players represent a vertically integrated ecosystem: advisory, infrastructure, capital, regulation, and market access — all operating within one geography.

From Regional Hub to Global AI Anchor

The broader message from STEP Dubai 2026 is moving UAE from being a regional tech hub to becoming a sovereign AI anchor economy.

Rather than waiting for global AI regulation to mature, Dubai is proactively shaping frameworks that balance innovation with oversight. Rather than relying solely on private capital, it is deploying strategic funds to accelerate ecosystem growth. And rather than marketing opportunity, it is engineering it.

For AI founders, investors, and enterprises evaluating their next global base, Dubai is positioning itself not merely as an option — but as a strategic advantage.

As the next decade of AI unfolds, the question is no longer whether Dubai will participate — but how much of the global AI value chain it will capture.

The post Dubai Positions Itself as the Global Launchpad for Sovereign AI Growth at STEP Dubai 2026 first appeared on T&I News.

Led by Mina Liccione and Ali Al Sayed, co-founders of Dubomedy x Comedy Inc, the session invited participants to step away from screens and into the unpredictable space of improvisation. The premise was simple but powerful: while algorithms optimize for patterns, humans innovate through surprise.

The workshop revolved around the foundational improv principle of “yes, and” — accepting what is given and building upon it. In an age where AI models generate responses based on probabilities and training data, Liccione and Al Sayed argued that the distinctly human edge lies in emotional intelligence, collaborative storytelling, and the ability to pivot in real time.

Participants were handed random props — from everyday office objects to abstract items — and challenged to transform them into humorous startup pitches on the spot. The absurdity was intentional. The exercise forced participants to silence their inner critic, embrace ambiguity, and co-create narratives under pressure.

The room filled with laughter, but beneath the humor was a sharp insight: innovation often begins with play. In boardrooms and product labs increasingly guided by data dashboards and algorithmic recommendations, the human capacity to imagine wildly, fail publicly, and connect authentically remains irreplaceable.

Liccione emphasized that improv is not about being funny — it is about listening. In a world of AI assistants and automated workflows, deep listening becomes a competitive advantage. “Yes, and” fosters collaboration rather than correction, momentum rather than hesitation. It is a mindset that can transform team dynamics as much as stage performances.

By the end of the session, participants were no longer strangers and fascinated by the power of the AI revolution. They became comfortable with each other and through active contributions as human based improvs, with playful pitches and unscripted exchanges, they rediscovered that creativity is not solely about precision — it is about presence.

As STEP Dubai 2026 continued to explore data, policy, and investment on its main stages, the Workshop Room offered a different kind of insight: the future will belong not only to those who build smarter machines, but to those who remain deeply, courageously human alongside them.

The post “Yes, And the Algorithm”: Finding Humanity in an AI-Driven World Through Improv first appeared on T&I News.

What emerged was a clear consensus — digital transformation in banking is no longer a competitive advantage. It is a survival strategy.

Listen to the conversation:

Dr. Abdul Malik Al Jaber of the Balsillie School of International Affairs framed the transformation as both technological and geopolitical. As global financial systems fragment and regional economies diversify, MENA banks must evolve from traditional deposit-and-lending models into agile, data-driven platforms capable of serving increasingly digital populations. AI, he noted, is becoming central to credit modeling, fraud detection, and macroeconomic forecasting.

From the cloud infrastructure perspective, Ghada Elkeissi of Amazon Web Services emphasized scalability and resilience. Banks are migrating core systems to the cloud to unlock advanced analytics, reduce operational silos, and deploy AI-powered services faster. However, modernization must occur within strict regulatory frameworks, requiring close coordination with central banks and compliance bodies across the region.

Payments innovation also took center stage. Birce Arslan from Mastercard highlighted how customer expectations are evolving rapidly. Consumers now demand frictionless cross-border payments, embedded finance, and hyper-personalized financial products. AI is enabling banks and payment networks to analyze behavioral data in real time, detect anomalies, and tailor services to individual needs — all while strengthening cybersecurity defenses.

Adding a strategic advisory lens, Muhammad Babar of HODL CONSULTING spoke candidly about the operational challenges banks face. Legacy systems, fragmented data architecture, and internal resistance to change can slow transformation. Successful institutions, he argued, are those that redesign workflows end-to-end rather than layering digital tools onto outdated processes.

Throughout the discussion, regulatory alignment surfaced as a defining theme. MENA regulators are increasingly proactive, launching sandboxes and digital banking licenses to foster innovation. Yet banks must balance speed with prudence. The panelists agreed that collaboration — between financial institutions, technology providers, and regulators — will determine whether the region can scale innovation responsibly.

The broader takeaway from the session was cautiously optimistic. MENA’s youthful population, high smartphone penetration, and government-backed digital agendas create fertile ground for financial innovation. But transformation requires more than technology investment. It demands cultural shifts, executive buy-in, and a willingness to reimagine what a bank fundamentally is.

As the Center Stage discussion concluded, one message lingered: the future of banking in MENA will not be built solely in branches or back offices. It will be architected in data centers, cloud platforms, regulatory roundtables, and AI labs — redefining how trust, capital, and opportunity circulate in a digital economy.

The post Future of Banking in MENA: Reinventing Finance in the Age of AI first appeared on T&I News.

The discussion opened with a central premise: AI is not a vertical industry. It is infrastructure. And for economies seeking productivity growth, job creation, and renewed competitiveness, the design of policy frameworks and capital flows will determine whether AI becomes extractive — or generative.

Follow the conversation:

Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Capital, framed the moment as one of strategic urgency. The Levant, he argued, possesses deep human capital, entrepreneurial resilience, and a globally connected diaspora. What it requires is coordinated policy alignment and smarter capital deployment. AI, in this context, represents a leapfrogging opportunity — enabling emerging markets to bypass legacy inefficiencies and build digitally native systems from the outset.

From a governance perspective, Mothanna Gharaibeh, representing The Fifth, emphasized regulatory modernization. For AI to drive inclusive growth, governments must move beyond reactive legislation toward anticipatory regulation — frameworks that encourage experimentation while safeguarding public trust. He underscored that national AI strategies must integrate education reform, digital infrastructure investment, and public-private partnerships.

Meanwhile, Walid Mansour of Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) focused on capital architecture. Venture funding in the region has historically been cyclical and concentrated. To power the next decade, he argued, the ecosystem must evolve toward deeper pools of institutional capital, cross-border investment vehicles, and sector-specific AI funds that support both early-stage experimentation and scale-stage expansion.

Throughout the session, one theme remained consistent: fragmentation is the region’s greatest risk — and coordination its greatest opportunity. The Levant and Mashreq economies share linguistic, cultural, and market synergies. By harmonizing digital regulations, enabling talent mobility, and aligning investment frameworks, the region could collectively compete in global AI value chains rather than operating as isolated markets.

Importantly, the panel avoided techno-optimism detached from reality. Speakers acknowledged structural challenges — political instability, infrastructure gaps, and limited risk appetite in certain markets. Yet the tone was pragmatic rather than pessimistic. AI was presented not as a silver bullet, but as a multiplier: enhancing productivity in logistics, financial services, healthcare, and government delivery.

The session concluded with a forward-looking reflection: the next decade will not be defined solely by who builds the most advanced models, but by who designs the most resilient ecosystems. Policy clarity, capital sophistication, and regional collaboration will determine whether the Levant and Mashreq Al Araby region emerge as contributors to the global AI economy — or remain consumers of imported innovation.

On the Main Stage at STEP Dubai 2026, the message was clear: economic renewal in the region will not happen by chance. It will be designed — deliberately — at the intersection of policy, AI, and capital.

The post Policy, AI, and Capital: Designing the Next Decade for the Levant and the Mashreq Al Araby Region first appeared on T&I News.